Let's save the people for those "some things" that have to be done by humans.

I don't dispute that the ultimate goal of spaceflight should be establishing a manned and expanding human presence in space. But I feel that our piecemeal and intermittent manned space programs have failed to pay for themselves, either financially or scientifically, and have been counterproductive to that ultimate goal. They are not part of a plan.

Specifically, I favor continuing and expanding our LEO facilities until we are assured they are a permanent part of our space infrastructure, and where they can be counted on to provide training and technology support for further manned missions. After we have consolidated those gains, then we can worry about expensive and dangerous exploration and colonization missions to other planets.

If there's one thing we should have learned from Apollo, Skylab and Mir, is that we need an integrated and planned long-term space exploration program, not a succession of glamorous one-shot publicity stunts of dubious value. That kind of work is best done by expendables. The next time we send men anywhere, it should not be just to look around, it should be to drop off supplies and equipment for the next crew.

I am convinced that, sooner or later, a systematic automated exploration of the solar system will eventually turn up something to justify a massive manned effort. Until then, we are best served by restricting our manned missions to training and technology test-beds.